One Police Man, Six Others Killed In Gombe Attack

Seven persons were on Saturday killed when gunmen invaded Shole village in Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State, South East, Nigeria.

Daily Independent gathered that the villagers all ran out of the village for safety.

Reports said one police man and six civilians were killed in the attack.

It was also gathered that several cars and houses were burnt and that the suspected insurgents invaded the village on motorbikes and Hilux vehicles.

It was further learnt that the gunmen were said to have moved to Biri in the same Nafada LGA where they killed one Policeman and ran away with some card readers and some election materials.

They were said to have moved to Dukku where they disrupted election processes shooting sporadically.

No casualties reported yet from Dukku but candidate to the Gombe State House of Assembly Usman Mohammad Jafun, told our correspondent on phone that the attackers were dressed in military uniforms.

When contacted over the incident, the Gombe Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Fwaje Atajiri said he was not aware of the incident but promised to get back to our correspondent after he is through with an urgent meeting he was attending.

However elections were reported to be going on in other parts of the state.

Nigeria Extends Vote to Second Day After Polling Station Delays

Nigeria extended voting in presidential and legislative elections to Sunday after delays and equipment malfunctions disrupted balloting while suspected Islamist militants mounted several attacks. 

 

Accreditation began late at about half of the polling stations, according to provisional data from the Situation Room, a coalition of civil-society groups monitoring the vote. At least 43 people were killed in election-related incidents, the group said. 

“The election is not going as well as people expected,” Nnamdi Obasi, senior Nigeria analyst at Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said by phone from Port Harcourt in the oil-producing Niger River delta. “Lots of people were not accredited.” 

The election, which was delayed by six weeks, is the most hotly contested since military rule ended in 1999 in Africa’s most populous nation. President Goodluck Jonathan, 57, and his People’s Democratic Party are facing a united opposition led by former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari, a 72-year-old northern Muslim who’s lost three previous elections. 

The Independent National Electoral Commission, known as INEC, said about 56 million of the 68 million registered voters picked up cards that were to be screened by biometric readers to cut down on identification fraud. Only 60 percent of the electronic devices functioned correctly, according to the Situation Room. INEC put the figure at 80 percent. 

Jonathan’s Registration

Jonathan had to delay his registration Saturday after the biometric card reader at his polling station in Bayelsa state failed to recognize his fingerprints. He was later able to vote. 

“It’s a disgrace; in four years they couldn’t arrange an election,” retired petroleum engineer Bassey Itama, 67, said as he waited in the Ajah district of Lagos, the commercial hub. “All INEC officials should be sued.” 

In some areas, registration went smoothly and voting began close to the 1:30 p.m. starting time. Balloting can take place Sunday at those stations where accreditation wasn’t completed, INEC spokesman Kayode Idowu said by phone. Counting of the votes started late Saturday, he said. 

The election is being held as the economy is struggling following a plunge in the price of oil, Nigeria’s largest export, and a currency that has weakened almost 18 percent in the past six months, the second-steepest drop among 24 African currencies tracked by Bloomberg. 

The International Monetary Fund cut its 2015 growth forecast for Nigeria to 4.8 percent this month, about half the average rate over the past 15 years. 

Boko Haram

To win, a presidential contender must take at least 50 percent of the total vote while winning a quarter of the ballots in a minimum of 24 of the 36 states. If none of the 14 candidates secure such a victory, a run-off would be held within seven days after the results are announced. 

The Nigerian military and troops from neighboring Chad and Niger are battling the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, that Human Rights Watch says has killed at least 1,000 civilians this year in the north of the country. 

On the eve of the election, Boko Haram militants burned down the northeastern town of Buratai, killing 25 people and injuring 30, Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima told journalists in the state capital, Maiduguri. 

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed one policeman and injured one other in an attack in the Nafada local government area in the northern state of Gombe, national police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said by phone. 

Militant Attacks

Gunmen killed at least six people in the town of Dukku in Gombe as voters were registering to cast their ballots, residents said. 

“I saw six corpses after the insurgents fled the area, and now the voting continues,” Musa Isa, a civil servant, said by phone from the town of Dukku. Fwaje Attajiri, a police spokesman in Gombe, confirmed the attack in a phone interview. 

One soldier was killed and two were wounded when they were fired upon in the southern state of Rivers, Captain Nsima Essien, a military spokeswoman, said in a mobile-phone text message. An explosion and a foiled attack in two southeastern towns caused no casualties, according to the police. 

In Maiduguri, Boko Haram’s birthplace and home to thousands of civilians who fled violence in neighboring communities, voter turnout was “massive,” Governor Shettima said after casting his ballot. 

“I just have to come out and vote for a change, I need a change in my life and situation,” said Falmata Goni, a 55-year-old woman who fled her hometown of Bama after attacks by Boko Haram and walked four kilometers (2.5 miles) to vote in Maiduguri. “I have no place yet to call a home.”

BREAKING: Police Summon El-Rufai, Other APC Bigwigs, Hours to Elections

The Kaduna state Police Command on Friday summoned the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Nasir El-Rufai, and two other bigwigs of the party to report for questioning in their offices.

 

Summoned to appear along with Mr. El-Rufai are Suleiman Hunkuyi and Lawal Yakawada.

Mr. Hunkuyi is the APC senatorial candidate for Kaduna North and chairman of the APC Kaduna state campaign council while Mr. Yakawada, who was secretary to the state government in the Patrick Yakowa government, is a senior member of the APC campaign council.

All three were invited by the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the CID.

Samuel Aruwan, the spokesman for the APC campaign council said, the police have followed up the written invitation with telephone calls.

The intent behind requesting the three top leaders of the opposition to report on the eve of the election is to hold them down until the election ends, Mr. Aruwan said.

It is not clear why the Police want to question the three men but party insiders suggested the invitation has to do with a petition about destruction of billboards in Zaria.

The APC claims it has been a victim of widespread vandalisation of its assets, saying the action of the police “is part of a campaign to slap criminal charges on the opposition for actions for which it has already been victimized”.

In response to the invitation, Yusuf Dankofa, an associate professor of law and counsel to the APC, has written to the police, notifying them that there is an ongoing court action at the Federal High Court in Kaduna regarding the events in Zaria.

In a letter to the commissioner of police, Mr. Dankofa said the pendency of the case prevents the police from taking any action in connection with the matter, as “that would not only amount to an act of sub judice, but would also translate to a total disregard for justice and a further desecration of the hallowed majesty of our courts.”

“In view of this fact that the above mentioned people’s application is before the court, the matter has been further adjourned to the 29th of April 2015 for further arguments and with this the court has been seized of this matter,” Mr. Dankofa said.

The police is yet to respond to Mr. Dankofa’s letter.

Meanwhile, the APC says it has been alerted to a plot to arrest some of its chieftains in Southern Kaduna.

They include party chairman and gubernatorial running-mate, Barnabas Yusuf Bala (Bantex), Mikaiah Tokwak, Ishaya Iko, a retired vice-admiral and Ben Kure, Director General of Kaduna APC Campaign Council.

$480m Abacha loot: SERAP Urges U.S. To Monitor Nigeria

Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has proposed to the U.S. Department of Justice a repatriation arrangement to limit control or management of $480 million forfeited Abacha funds by the Nigerian Government to ensure transparency and accountability in the process.

This was contained a letter dated March 25, 2015 and sent to Tom Malinowski, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor by SERAP’s Volunteer Counsel, Alexander Sierck and Omolola Adekanye of Cameron LPP, Washington DC.

SERAP, in the letter, said there are unflattering indicators that the Nigerian Government condones corruption in public service and its precedent on repatriated funds.

According to the organisation, the Department of Justice should lend itself to public suggestions and proposals prior to drafting a proposal for repatriation and disbursement of Abacha assets for court’s approval.

SERAP seeks the State Department’s support for this purpose.

The letter reads in part: “SERAP is in ongoing communications with the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Department of Justice by Order of Court entered on February 6, 2014 by District Judge, John D. Bates, of the District of Colombia.

“Hence, SERAP has respectfully requested that the U.S. Department of Justice publish an invitation in the Federal Register for public suggestions and comments to be made regarding, inter-alia (i) Proposed permitted and prohibited use of the Abacha funds, (ii) Proposed framework for monitoring and evaluation of development programs and (iii) Integration of transparency and accountability protocols in the process of disbursement.

“Corruption remains the primary factor undermining democracy, human rights and economic development in Nigeria. Fostering robust anticorruption measures should, therefore, be a prime objective of U.S. foreign policy regarding Nigeria and other comparable nations.

“Accordingly, SERAP respectfully invites the State Department to support SERAP’s ongoing discussions with the U.S. Department of Justice to achieve our shared objective.

“SERAP’s concern about the repatriation and ultimate disbursement of these funds stems from the fact that an arrangement that would potentially allow the Nigerian Government access, control or management of the funds when repatriated undermines the objective of the Kleptocracy Initiative.

“This is because the Nigerian Government has shown no disposition towards actively combating corruption by public officials and has not promoted transparency and accountability in public spending.”

Four Crushed To Death In Ilaro, Irate Youths Seize Vehicle

At least, four persons were reportedly crushed to death, Thursday in  Ilaro, headquarters of Yewa South local government area of Ogun state,  when a cement laden articulated vehicle  belonging to Dangote Cement Company, allegedly  rammed into them.

The truck, which registration number could not be ascertained, was said to have crushed a commercial motorcyclist and three passengers on the bike along the Udoji-Sabo Road which runs through the back of the local government secretariat in the town.

According to an eyewitness account, the death of the four persons sparked off a violent reaction from the youths, who had gathered at the scene of the accident and seized the driver of the truck.

The quick intervention of the policemen, who raced to the scene, it was gathered, saved the driver from being lynched by the irate youths.

While the driver of the truck was whisked away by the police, the source further informed our correspondent that the angry mob vented their anger on another truck loaded with cement product which bore the same inscription of the cement company.

The driver of the truck, however, escaped from the mob but left the truck at the scene.

This development, however, forced the mob to set the two trucks ablaze after which they went on protest, chanting songs that the company must relocate away from the area.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident.

Adejobi, who disclosed that the police had commenced investigations into the matter, added that normalcy had since returned to the town.

Nigerian Military Destroy Boko Haram Headquarters in Border Town

According to the military, Nigerian Armed Forces have retaken the border town of Gwoza in the country's northeast from the Boko Haram militant group.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Nigerian Armed Forces have retaken the border town of Gwoza in the country's northeast from the Boko Haram militant group, according to the military.

 "Several terrorists died while many are captured. Mopping up of entire Gwoza and her suburbs is ongoing," the Armed Forces reported via Twitter on Friday.

An earlier tweet said that government forces had destroyed the headquarters of the "terrorists' self-styled caliphate."

Boko Haram seized Gwoza and declared a caliphate in the town in August 2014.

Last week, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said he hoped that all territories currently controlled by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria would be retaken within a month.

President Jonathan is in the running for a second term in Saturday's general election, originally scheduled for February 14, but postponed by six weeks.

Boko Haram initiated military operations in Nigeria in 2009 intending to impose their version of Islamic rule. 

The group, founded in 2002, first opposed Western-style education, and is currently operating on the border of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

OPC, Ex-Militants Donning Fake Police, Military Uniforms To Unleash Mayhem On Opposition – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that ethnic militias and ex-militants are now wearing fake police and army uniforms so they can unleash mayhem on the opposition and disrupt voting, especially in the South-west, without hindrance.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said OPC members were sighted at Owu -Elepe in Ikorodu Local Government Area on Friday morning changing into fake police and army uniforms, confirming the alarm earlier raised by the party that fake uniforms of security agencies were being sewn in the capital city of a South-West state.

It also said ex-militants have been issued with fake military uniforms and deployed to some areas of Lagos, especially the Lekki-Ajah axis, to foment trouble.

APC said the ex-militants in military uniforms are moving around in unmarked private vehicles, and their assignments are being facilitated by security agencies.

”In his national broadcast to the nation on Friday morning, President Jonathan said he is under oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of the country at all times. How can he do that when his supporters have engaged the services of ethnic militias, whom they have clothed in police and military uniforms, to engage in violence and election manipulations?

”If indeed the President means what he said, when he warned in his broadcast that ‘all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that any persons who breach the peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws’, then he should immediately call his supporters to order and direct the security agencies to arrest those going around in fake police and military uniforms,” APC said.

Meanwhile, the party has also alerted the nation to the brazen actions to rig the elections in Rivers State, where all original results sheets have been removed and photocopied to pave the way for the PDP to write fake results of the elections in the state. Similar moves to manipulate the elections and engage in massive thumb printing, starting on Friday evening, with purchased PVCs are also taking place not just in Rivers but in the South-east.

It said the APC agent at the INEC office in the Port Harcourt, Hon. Emma Edeeyah, was arrested this morning without cause.

”These developments are worrisome and do not bode well for a free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections. We are therefore calling on local and international observers to pay a close attention to these desperate measures aimed at thwarting the will of the people,” APC said.

I Will Make Naira Equal In Value To Dollar, Says Buhari

Owerri – The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday said he would ensure that the Naira was equal to the dollar in value, if voted into office.

Buhari stated this during the South-East presidential rally of the party at Dan Anyima Stadium, Owerri.

“It is sad that the value of the naira has dropped to more than N230 to one dollar; this does not speak well for the nation’s economy,’’ he said.

He urged the people to vote for APC, noting that he would ensure that corruption was tackled headlong if elected.

Earlier, Gov Rochas Okorocha had urged APC supporters to vote for the party’s candidates at all levels, noting that a vote for Buhari without support to others at the state would amount to nothing.

Okorocha said Buhari would address the problem of electricity, bring back the kidnapped Chibok girls and promote industrial growth.

He said that Buhari was loved by the people in the region and urged them to elect him and other APC candidates during the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

Former governor of Anambra, Mr Chinwoke Mbadinuju and former Minister of Education, Chinwe Obaji, were formally welcomed to the APC at the rally.

The rally was attended by APC supporters from Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Imo. (NAN)

Owerri – The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday said he would ensure that the Naira was equal to the dollar in value, if voted into office.
Buhari stated this during the South-East presidential rally of the party at Dan Anyima Stadium, Owerri.
“It is sad that the value of the naira has dropped to more than N230 to one dollar; this does not speak well for the nation’s economy,’’ he said.
He urged the people to vote for APC, noting that he would ensure that corruption was tackled headlong if elected.
Earlier, Gov Rochas Okorocha had urged APC supporters to vote for the party’s candidates at all levels, noting that a vote for Buhari without support to others at the state would amount to nothing.
Okorocha said Buhari would address the problem of electricity, bring back the kidnapped Chibok girls and promote industrial growth.
He said that Buhari was loved by the people in the region and urged them to elect him and other APC candidates during the March 28 and April 11 general elections.
Former governor of Anambra, Mr Chinwoke Mbadinuju and former Minister of Education, Chinwe Obaji, were formally welcomed to the APC at the rally.
The rally was attended by APC supporters from Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Imo. (NAN)
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/ill-make-naira-equal-in-value-to-dollar-says-buhari/#sthash.NGfWVWmm.dpuf

FRSC Official Smashes PUNCH Van’s Mirror In Bayelsa

A Hilux van, belonging to Punch Nigeria Limited, publishers of PUNCH Newspaper titles, was on Monday smashed by officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission in Kiama in Bayelsa State.

An FRSC official had hit the side mirror of the van, which was on circulation duty in the South-South region and left the part of the vehicle damaged.

The incident happened few weeks after a group of Vehicle Inspection Officers, stationed along the Patani Road in Delta State, damaged a PUNCH’s van.

Efforts made to get the police to arrest the errant VIOs hit a brickwall as one of the police officers at Patani Police Station demanded N20,000 to open a file for a case before they could go for the offending VIO officers.

Trouble started in Kaima when one of the FRSC officials, identified as H.U. Daghro, demanded a copy of the newspaper from the driver of the vehicle, Mr. Edet Mendie, who immediately told them that he had no complimentary copy of the day’s newspaper.

Mendie said Daghro had allowed him to go only for another official of the commission, E.D. Timidi, to violently hit the side mirror of the vehicle, forcing the part of the Hilux van to fall off.

According to him, the FRSC official, who did not show any sign of remorse, threatened to drag him to their office for a thorough beating.

Mendie added, “I was coming from Benin after dropping the papers. As soon as I got to that point, the Road Safety officer asked me for a complimentary copy of the paper and I explained to him that I was not given any complimentary copy.

“He then asked me to go. But as I moved, another officer (Timidi) hit my motor with his hand. When I got down, I asked him why he acted violently after his officer had checked me. He asked me whether Daghro asked me of my driving licence and I said he (Daghro) only asked me of paper.

“When I asked him why he hit my car, he said that our (PUNCH) vehicle is on their (FRSC) wanted list because we do not stop when they ask us to do so. Then I asked why he went ahead to hit the vehicle even when I had stopped.

“The Road Safety officer seized the side mirror of the vehicle. The incident happened at Kiama before you get to Mbiama. They told me to leave the scene and threatened that if I refused to leave, they would take me to their office and beat me up. The incident took place around 9.33am.”

FRSC Sector Commander in Bayelsa State, Mr. Vincent Jack, expressed surprise over the attitude of the officers and promised to order them to his office for questioning.